A method and apparatus for constructing a probe card assembly is provided. A probe pin is inserted into an aperture of an inverted socket enclosure to cause a probe pin shoulder of the probe pin to make contact with an aperture shoulder of the aperture. An upper end of the probe pin protrudes from the aperture after the probe pin shoulder makes contact with the aperture shoulder. A compressible member is inserted into the aperture to position an upper end of the compressible member to make contact with a lower portion of the probe pin. A substrate is aligned over the inverted socket enclosure so that the lower end of the compressible member is in contact with a substrate contact located on the substrate. The substrate is affixed in a non-permanent manner to the inverted socket enclosure.
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1. A probe card assembly, comprising:
a socket enclosure comprising a plurality of apertures, wherein said plurality of apertures includes an aperture at an angle of 5° to 45° from vertical; and
a substrate that is temporarily affixed to said socket enclosure, wherein said substrate may be removed from said socket enclosure,
wherein a resiliently compressible member and a probe pin are disposed within said aperture, an upper portion of said probe pin protrudes from the aperture, and the upper portion of said probe pin is pyramidal-shaped and includes a flat tip capable of providing scrubbing action when against a contact.
2. The probe card assembly of
3. The probe card assembly of
4. The probe card assembly of
5. The probe card assembly of
6. The probe card assembly of
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The present invention relates to an approach for creating a spring-loaded probe pin assembly.
The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.
In the manufacture of certain probe cards and the like, each probe of the probe card is electroformed (e.g., as part of a group of probes), singulated, and then mechanically bonded (e.g., one at a time) onto the probe card. This process is time and resource intensive. Further, often it is necessary to perform additional work to realign any misaligned probes on the probe card before the probe card may be satisfactorily used in testing. Such rework may interfere with the bonds holding the probes to the probe card.
The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:
In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a socket with precisely formed apertures 400 is adapted to retain respective probe pin 102/compressible member 402 assemblies in precise alignment at desired lean angle(s) 120. The guidance provided to the probe pin 102/compressible member 402 assemblies by respective apertures 400 substantially reduces or eliminates the alignment problems associated with the convention probe cards regarding reworking. Assembly of exemplary probe card assembly 500 is also simplified as, in essence, probe pins 102 and compressible members 402 may just be dropped into respective apertures 400 of socket enclosure 100 and then space transformer/structure/substrate 110 may be attached to socket enclosure 100 to retain them therein. Further, in an exemplary embodiment, the space transformer/structure/substrate 110 is removably attached to socket enclosure 100 so that individual probe pins 102 and/or compressible members 402 may be replaced as needed to permit repair of the probe card assembly 500 while keeping the same multi-layer ceramic (MLC) structure. In an embodiment, compressible member 402 may be a resiliently compressible member (such as a spring or the like) that compresses in response to a force asserted against a probe pin in contact the resiliently compressible member.
In one embodiment, structure 110 may be removably attached to socket enclosure 100. In another exemplary embodiment, structure 110 may be permanently attached to socket enclosure 100. It is noted that if structure 110 is not permanently attached to socket enclosure 100, structure 110 and socket enclosure 100 may be separated so that individual conductors 114 (or individual pins 102 or compressible members 402) may be relatively easily be replaced or repaired to repair probe card assembly 500.
As shown in
The pattern of apertures and conductors 114 may be designed to mirror or match the pattern of upper circuit member contacts 504 with which probe card assembly 500 may be employed.
Socket enclosure 100 may be comprised of a non-conductive material such as a ceramic, e.g., zirconia alumina. For example, socket enclosure 100 may be comprised of a material so as to permit at least as little as a 150 micron spacing between adjacent apertures 400. It is noted that socket enclosure 100 may permit a pitch, i.e., socket enclosure 100 may allow adjacent apertures as close as, for example, of about 100 microns or closer.
Probe pins 102 may be comprised of an electrically conductive material such as nickel, stainless steel, copper manganese (CuMn), palladium (Pd) or alloys thereof and may further be coated with a conductive material, such as gold (Au).
In an embodiment of the invention that employs attachment compound 112, attachment compound 112 may be comprised of an adhesive compound such as, a glue-type material or epoxy. Whether attachment compound 112 (as illustrated in
As illustrated in
In an embodiment, compressible member 402 may comprise a spring, such as a torsion spring as illustrated in
Compressible member 402 may be comprised of an electrically conductive material such as nickel, stainless steel, copper manganese (CuMn), palladium (Pd), or alloys thereof, and may further be coated with a conductive material, such as gold (Au).
As illustrated in
Lower end 432 of compressible member 402 may engage contact 404 on substrate 110 so as to bias probe pin 102 upwardly and specifically so as to maintain contact between probe pin shoulder 410 and aperture shoulder 420 absent a downward force against probe pin 102 sufficient to compress compressible member 402, and hence probe pin 102, downwardly. While the sizing of aperture 400 may be designed to maintain coaxial alignment of probe pin 102 and/or compressible member 402 within aperture 400, the spring tension also may also assist in maintaining such coaxial alignment.
In step 700, socket enclosure 100 may be inverted as compared to
In step 702, single compressible members 402 may then be inserted into respective apertures 400 so that upper ends 430 of compressible members 402 may contact lower portions 408 of respective probe pins 102.
In step 704, structure 110 may be aligned over inverted socket enclosure 100 so that complimentary substrate contacts 404 may be aligned with respective apertures 400 and/or compressible members 402. Structure 110 may be mounted to the socket enclosure so that lower ends 432 of compressible members 402 may contact the respective substrate contacts 404.
As discussed above, it is noted that the spring tension caused by the engagement between compressible member 402 and probe pin 102 and substrate contact 404: (1) may be used to assist in maintaining coaxial alignment of probe pin 102 and/or compressible member 402 with aperture 400; and (2) may be used to bias probe pin 102 against shoulder 420 of aperture 400.
In step 706, structure 110 may be affixed to inverted socket enclosure 100 such as by attachment compound 112, fasteners, etc. In an embodiment, structure 110 may not be permanently attached to socket enclosure 100 to facilitate repair of individual conductors 114 and/or individual probe pins 102 and /or individual compressible members 402. In another embodiment, structure 110 may be permanently attached to socket enclosure 100.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
In an embodiment, the angle of Z Travel 606 may be from about greater than 0.0 (zero) to upwards of 10.0/1000 inches. A large maximum Z Travel or overdrive 606 may help to ensure contact between probe pins 102 and respective contacts 504, but may also lead to a more rapid wear out of probe card assembly 500. In certain embodiments of the invention, a maximum Z Travel 606 may be from about 3.5/1000 to 5.0/1000 inches. Further, in certain embodiments of the invention, Z Travel 606 may be from about 0.0 (zero) to 2.0/1000 inches. It is noted that with the improved planarity/co-planarity of probe pin tip ends 106 that is accomplished with the teachings of the present invention, smaller and smaller (maximum) Z Travel and/or overdrive 606 may be achieved while still permitting contact between probe pins 102 and respective contacts 504. While embodiments of the invention have been described with reference to a single touchdown, or contact, between conductors 114 and upper circuit member contacts 504, in practice multiple touchdowns may be employed during the testing of a single upper circuit member 504, such as a memory wafer.
By employing the present invention, a considerable amount of manufacturing process steps currently used to build a probe card assembly may be eliminated. Assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention reduces to a few relatively simple process steps using well-know technologies, such as (1) EDM (electrical discharge machining) and the use of a shaped electrode with a high voltage discharge to remove material and achieve a desired shape without any mechanical touching and/or forming of the material to form probe pins 102, or (2) Auto-CNC (housing machining process, or an automated, sophisticated machining process) where a two-dimensional (2D) electronic drawing is inputted into a precise multi-axis grinding machine which converts the 2D drawing into a three-dimensional shaped structure from a template material, for example, metal or ceramic) to form socket enclosure 100 with spaced apertures 400 and/or probe pins 102, for example, with a high rate of accuracy and repeatability as compared to certain current assembly processes to form probes/probe card assemblies for wafer testing which are more involved, complex and time consuming. Thus, compared to certain conventional processes, cost, development time, and production cycle times may be reduced. Of course, these processes are exemplary in nature, and the present invention is not limited thereto.
In an embodiment of the invention, a socket enclosure may be employed which would enable not only exceptional probe tip alignment, with exceptional coplanarity of the respective probe tips throughout the entire array by providing directional guidance to the probe pin itself, but also substantially uniform scrubbing motion at most every touchdown, or contact, between the probe pin tip and the respective contact on the device under test (DUT). As noted above, this may also permit a lower maximum Z Travel and/or overdrive 606.
The exemplary embodiments of the present invention may enable a new generation of flip-chip wafer probe cards to support pad pitches, or space between adjacent pads, as low as at least, for example, about 150 microns.
While the present invention is described primarily with respect to spring-loaded probe pins configured at a lean angle, it is not limited thereto. For example, according to certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the spring-loaded probe pins may be provided orthogonal (or substantially orthogonal) to the surface of the underlying substrate (i.e., the substrate through which the spring-loaded probe pins are supported).
While the present invention has been described primarily with respect to probe cards for wafer testing of semiconductor devices, it is not limited thereto. Certain of the teachings may be applied to other technologies, for example, package testing of semiconductor devices.
In the foregoing specification, embodiments of the invention have been described with reference to numerous specific details that may vary from implementation to implementation. Thus, the sole and exclusive indicator of what is the invention, and is intended by the applicants to be the invention, is the set of claims that issue from this application, in the specific form in which such claims issue, including any subsequent correction. Any definitions expressly set forth herein for terms contained in such claims shall govern the meaning of such terms as used in the claims. Hence, no limitation, element, property, feature, advantage or attribute that is not expressly recited in a claim should limit the scope of such claim in any way. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
Mironescu, Dan, Chartarifsky, Dov, Pollak, Avi
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Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Feb 28 2007 | SV Probe Pte Ltd | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / | |||
Apr 20 2007 | CHARTARIFSKY, DOV | SV Probe Pte Ltd | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 019406 | /0337 | |
Apr 22 2007 | POLLAK, AVI | SV Probe Pte Ltd | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 019406 | /0337 | |
Apr 22 2007 | MIRONESCU, DAN | SV Probe Pte Ltd | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 019406 | /0337 |
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